Staying Power: Sox Can't Shake Lowell

By Rick Eggleston
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Is it possible to trade Mike Lowell and not trade Mike Lowell at the same time? If you’re the Red Sox, apparently you can.

Leave it to the Red Sox to turn an otherwise mundane matter into a game of hot potato. With Lowell playing the role of the Sox' proverbial potato, to date Boston has had no luck dropping the five-time all-star third baseman. Instead, the 2007 World Series MVP continues to keep landing right back into the Sox’ hot little hands. This, after a recent deal to trade Lowell to the Texas Rangers in exchange for rookie prospect Max Ramirez went up in smoke when it was revealed Lowell would require surgery on his ailing right thumb.

It’s pretty clear that the Red Sox are through with Lowell, as evidenced by their most recent attempt to move the injury-plagued corner man to Texas. Coming off a season in which he was slowed by a balky hip that required surgery last offseason, Lowell still managed to put up OK numbers batting .209 with 17 home runs and 75 RBI. Lowell’s numbers nearly mirrored his 2008 season — the first of a three-year $38 million contract — with the Sox, who awarded Lowell the extension following his 21 homers and career-high 120 RBI effort in 2007.

Now, after what are soon to be two surgeries later, Lowell enters the final year of his contract still a Red Sox — something arguably GM Theo Epstein and company weren’t expecting. Not with free agents Adrian Beltre and San Diego Adrian Gonzalez both still available, and journeyman Casey Kotchman slated — for now — to start at first and Kevin Youkilis taking over at third.

Quite simply, there’s nowhere to put Lowell, who will have plenty of veteran company on the bench with catcher Jason Varitek having more-or-less agreed to backup Victor Martinez, while Tim Wakefield may lose his starting job now that John Lackey is aboard. The Red Sox may enter 2010 with the deepest bench in MLB.

Colts better play to win the game

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

A chance to go 16-0 in the regular season, and the Indianapolis Colts are waffling over whether to start resting players.

Are you serious?

I just don't like the fact that they might not go for the perfect regular season and have a chance to run the table in the playoffs for a perfect season and Super Bowl title.

I know, you want your players rested for the playoffs. I get that.

But what I don't understand is that if you rest guys leading up the playoffs, you run the risk of getting stale -- timing could be off on both sides of the ball -- and that could come back to bite you.

What's the big plus of having fresh, healthy and well-rested players if they might not perform to their peak because of so much down time? I'd rather keep my players focused and don't change one thing because this Colts team is clicking on all cylinders.

Is it a grind? Of course it is. We all know it's a long season, but that's why you have a first-round bye, that should be your time to rest up.

The Colts have a chance to make history and first-year coach Jim Caldwell is undecided if the starters will play or for how long they play?

What a joke! If he starts resting guys, I hope they get bounced in the playoffs -- the Chargers could do that anyway.

Here's an idea: Play the starters and keep their mojo going, build up a big lead and then pull them and put the reserves in. See, you win the game and are able to give your No. 1 guys like Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Joseph Addai some rest.

But don't go playing the game of "I don't know if they're going to play or not" BS, I hope that's just for media purposes.

I would love to see history in the making (well, if the Patriots eventually get knocked out of the playoffs), I think most of us would.

Do all football fans a favor Caldwell, play your guys like you've done all season. I bet your team wants to play for a chance at history, don't be that guy.

But if you are that guy, you're off Colts fans' Christmas card lists.

Your team better show up like the fans do every week.